Speed wrench adapter

ABSTRACT

An adapter permitting a wrench configured to engage a given size and given configured rotating member to be used to engage a smaller size rotatable device, the adapter having a longitudinal axis and having an external configuration concentric with the axis configured to receive the wrench whereby the adapter may be rotated, and having a recess therein concentric with the axis, the surface of the recess being configured to slidably and nonrotatably engage the rotatable device.

United States Patent 11 1 Evans et al. 1 1 Apr. 8, 1975 1 1 SPEED WRENCHADAPTER 3.029.673 4/1962 Goosey 81/185 3.802 02 4 I974 B t 8 8! I77 A[76] Inventors: James P. Evans, 3233 SW 23 SL; 3 eng Son C n- T 1037 SW34 5 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS both of Oklahoma City, Okla.171.321 11/1921 United Kingdom 1. 81/185 73l 15 444.355 3/1936 UnitedKingdom Bl/IZI R [22] F'lcd: 1973 Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith[21] App]. No.: 334,027 Assistant E.\'aminer.lames G. Smith 1521 0.5. c181/185; 81/177 A I57] ABSTRACT 1511 lm. c1 .x. 825d 13/58 adapterPe'mmmg a Wrench Configured engage 1581 Field of Search 81/177 A, 185,DIG. 11. given Size give" configured fuming member 31/121 R. 121 A, 12]B be used to engage a smaller size rotatable device, the

adapter having a longitudinal axis and having an exter- 5 ReferencesCited nal configuration concentric with the axis configured UNITEDSTATES PATENTS to receive the wrench whereby the adapter may be rotated,and having a recess therein concentric with the ii i33 a f 81/12 R Xaxis, the surface of the recess being configured to slid- 898 36 7i195gdnol iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii "g' 'i' g q ably and nonrotatably engage therotatable device 3027.790 4/1962 Wagner 1. 81/121 R 6 Claims, 13 DrawingFigures SPEED WRENCH ADAPTER BACKGROUND. SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THEINVENTION Most hand wrenches utilized for rotating nuts. bolts 5 ploy anend wrench to rotate two different size memand so forth are ofthreegeneral types. First is the open end wrench consisting of two paralleljaws having paralleled surfaces which engage the member to be rotated.The second is a box end wrench providing an opening. the handleextending therefrom, the opening being configured to engage therotatable device. The third general type of wrench is the adjustablewrench having jaws of varying widths which may be adjusted to engage anut. There are a great many varieties and other minor wrenches but byand large these three types of hand wrenches are those which are mostfrequently employed by the mechanic, craftsman. assembly line operator.or others engaged in mechanical work.

Most mechanics have a tool set which includes a large number ofwrenches. generally of a variety of types. Since there is such a widevariety of sizes and shapes of rotatable devices this means that theaverage mechanic must have a large number of wrenches. In addition. inthe United States at the present time the vast majority of rotatabledevices are dimensioned in inches. A trend has started towards the useof the metric system which means that an increasingly large percentageof nuts, bolts and other mechanical rotatable devices will be of themetric sizes. This means that mechanics will be required to have twicethe number of wrenches previously required.

This invention provides a means whereby an adapter can be used with awrench to increase the range of sizes to which the wrench can beemployed. The adapter thereby enables the use of a wrench, for instance,sized for devices in inches to be employed on devices sized in terms ofthe metric measurement system. As a further example, this inventionpermits a wrench of capacity of three-fourths inch. that is, designed toengage a nut. bolt or the like wherein the width across parallel sidesis three-fourth inch, to be utilized for a plurality of sizes of deviceshaving smaller dimensions. Thus a complete set of tools usable to rotatedevices may be made up of a comparatively few number of wrenches withadapters enabling the wrenches to be used on a large number of differentsize devices.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an adapterpermitting a wrench configured to engage a given size rotatable deviceto be used to engage a smaller size rotatable device.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adapter permitting theuse of an open end wrench or box end wrench to drive a wrench socket.

These general objects. as well as more specific objects will befulfilled in the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS FIG. I is an elevational view of one embodimentof the invention particularly adapted for use in applying an end wrenchfor the rotation of a socket. the socket being shown in dotted outlineas appliedto rotate a bolt employed to hold two elements together, thebolt and secured elements being also shown in dotted outline.

bers.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views taken along the lines 4A4A and4B4B respectively of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an additional alternate embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5A5A of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an additional alternate embodiment of theinvention showing the invention in elementary form and specificallyshowing the arrange ment wherein the adapter may be employed such that awrench design for a hexagonal fitting may be employed to rotate asmaller size square cross-sectional member.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6A6A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment as shown in FIG. 6 but showing theadapter designed such that a wrench for use on a hexagonal member may beemployed to rotate a smaller size. five sided member.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 butshowing the adapter designed such that a wrench employed for rotating ahexagonal member may be utilized to rotate a smaller size l2 pointmember. such as 12 point nuts and bolts as frequently employed in theaircraft industry.

FIG 9 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 showing the arrangementwherein the adapter may be employed for rotation of an octagonal memberby means of a wrench normally employed for rotation of a hexagonalmember.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGS. 6and 6A, the most elementary embodiment of the invention is shown. Theadapter illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6A permits a wrench configured toengage a given size and given configured rotatable device, such as inthe illustrated embodiment a hexagonal device to be used to engage adifferent size rotatable device, in this case a square cross-sectionallyconfigured device. The adapter I0 is an integral member having alongitudinal axis indicated by the numeral 12 in FIG. 6A. The member hasan external configuration 14 concentric about axis I2 configured toreceive a wrench. As previously indicated in the illustrated arrangementthe external configuration 14 is adapted to receive a wrench designedfor use on hexagonal members. Thus. the adapter illustrated in FIGS. 6and 6A is specifically configured so that a ratcheting wrench such asillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,107. issued Nov. 16, I971, entitled,Speed Wrench. may be employed.

While the adapter of FIGS. 6 and 6A is particularly advantageous whenused with ratcheting wrenches of the type illustrated in the above US.patent, it can be seen that the adapter member can be utilized for anytype of normal end wrench such as an open end wrench, a box end wrench,or socket wrench. The adapter I0 has a recess 16 therein. In theillustrated arrangement the recess 16 extends as an opening through themember. The recess 16 has a configuration concentric with axis 12configured to slidably and nonrotatably engage a rotatable device. Inthe arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6A the configuration ofrecess 16 is square. Thus the adapter illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6A isdesigned so that anyone having a wrench, such as a ratcheting typewrench described in US. Pat. No. 3,620,107, configured to engage ahexagonal member may with the aid of adapter 10, utilize the wrench forrotating a square member.

FIG. 7 shows the arrangement wherein the adapter It] has a hexagonalexternal configuration 14 as shown in FIG. 6 but having a recess 16A ofa five sided arrangement, thus the adapter of FIG. 7 may be employed toadapt a wrench designed for a hexagonal member to rotate a five sidedmember.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the member 10 having a hexagonal externalconfiguration 14 and an internal recess configuration 16B ofthe 12 pointdesign to conform to the 12 point nuts and bolt frequently employed inthe aircraft industry.

FIG. 9 shows the arrangement wherein the configuration of the recess 16Cis octagonal.

It can be seen that the combination of external configurations l4 andinternal configurations 16 may vary in great variety. Thus by means of aseries of adapters 10 one wrench may be employed to engage a largenumber of different sized and shaped rotatable members. Since an adapter10 is a relatively small item compared to a wrench it can be seen that awrench or a few wrenches, combined with a large number of adapterscompose a tool set of exceedingly wide range but yet of small weight.size and economy.

FIGS. 4, 4A and 4B show an improved alternate em bodiment of theinvention. In this embodiment the adapter 10A is slightly longerparallel the axis 12 than the embodiment of FIG. 6. The adapter 10A ofFIG. 4 has an external configuration 14 of a hexagonal shape the same asin FIG. 6. However, the arrangement of 10A includes a first recess 16Dat one end of the member and a recess 16E of different size at the otherend of the member. Thus the adapter 10A of FIG. 4 may be employed toengage two separate size rotational members. That is. a wrench designedto engage the external configuration 14 may be utilized with the adapterof FIG. 4 to rotate a member having a configuration slidably andnonrotatably received by the recess 16D and a different member slidablyand nonrotatably received by the recess 16E. While both of the internalrecesses 16D and 16E are shown in the illustration of FIGS. 4, 4A and 48as hexagonal. it can be seen that they may be square. octagonal, twelvepoint or any other size and may be of combinations of configurations inthe same member.

An additional improvement of the arrangement of FIG. 4 includes the useof a collar 18. The collar 18 is integrally formed with the member I andis of em larged diameter and is positioned intermediate the ends ofthemember. The collar 18 forms a rest for a wrench. The collar isparticularly useful when a ratcheting type wrench is employed to rotatethe adapter A, making it easy for the user to rest the wrench on thecollar 18 as the wrench is ratcheted on the adapter.

FIGS. 5 and 5A show an additional alternate embodiment. The arrangementof FIG. 5 is similar to that of FIG. 4 except that there are twointegrally formed enlarged diameter collars 18A and 18B parallel to andspaced apart from each other. In this arrangement a wrench may be placedon the adapter 10B between the collars 18A and 18B to facilitate therotation of the adapter and thereby any member to which the adapter isattached.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show an additional alternate arrangement of theadapter. This adapter indicated generally by the numeral 20 isspecifically intended for use with a typical socket indicated in dottedoutline by the numeral 22. Sockets 22 are commonly employed wrenchdevices and include a recess 22 at the lower end having a configuration,such as hexagonal in the illustrated arrangement, for engaging arotatable member, such as the head of a bolt 24 shown in dotted outline.The upper end of the socket 22 includes a square cross-sectioned recess228 which normally receives the shank of a tool for the rotationthereof, the tool including an integral handle. The tool having thesquare portion which is normally received in the recess 22B may employ apivoted handle or a ratcheting handle. Bolt 24 may be employed in atypical arrangement such as for securing a part 26A to a part 268, suchparts along with the bolt 24 and socket 22 being shown in dotted outlinesince they do not form a part of the invention but merely illustrate anenvironment in which the invention functions. The bolt 34 is shownpositioned in a recess 26C, thus a normal end wrench could not engagethe bolt 24. Socket 22 is easily affixed to the head of bolt 24 and thisinvention provides a small adapter which will permit an end wrench,including a ratcheting end wrench, to be used to rotate the socket 22.The adapter 20 includes an integral member having a first end portion20A having a square cross-sectional configuration to slidably andnonrotatably engage the square crosssectional recess 228 in socket 22.The adapter 20 further includes an integral wrench receiving portion 208at the upper end having a hexagonal cross-sectional configuration. Thethird portion of the adapter 20 is an integral collar portion 20C ofenlarged diameter to function as a rest for a wrench applied on theportion 20B to augment the rotation of the member 20, particularly whenrotated by a ratcheting wrench of the type described in U.S. Pat. No.3,620,107, as aboveidentified.

The adapters described fulfill the objects set forth at the beginning ofthe description and provide means whereby wrenches may be employed toengage a variety of different size and different configured rotationalmembers at a substantial saving in weight, space and cost compared tonormal tool sets.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is understoodthat the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments setforth herein by way of exemplifying the invention, but the invention isto be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims,including the full range of equivalency to which each element or stepthereof is entitled What is claimed is:

1. An adapter permitting a wrench configured to engage a given size andgiven configured rotatable device to be used to engage a smaller sizedrotatable device comprising:

an integral member having a longitudinal axis, having a symmetricalexternal configuration concentric with said axis configured to receive awrench whereby the member may be rotated, and having a recess in eachend therein each concentric with said axis, the surface of one recessbeing configured to slidably and nonrotatably engage a rotat- 5 abledevice of a first configuration and the other recess being configured tononrotatably engage a rotatable member of a second configuration,including a first and a second integral enlarged diameter portion eachformed on the exterior of said member intermediate the ends thereof,each enlarged diameter portion being concentric with said member axisand each being of short length measured parallel the member axis, theenlarged diameter portions being spaced apart from each other andadaptable to receive a wrench therebetween, the external configurationof the integral member being the same throughout the length thereofexcept for the enlarged diameter portions.

2. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said member externalconfiguration is hexagonal and, at least one of said internalconfigurations is square.

3. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said member externalconfiguration is hexagonal and at least one of said internalconfigurations is also hexagonal.

4. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said member externalconfiguration is hexagonal and at least one of said internalconfigurations is quintagonal.

5. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said member externalconfiguration is hexagonal and at least one of said internalconfigurations is octagonalv 6. An adapter according to claim 1 whereinsaid member external configuration is hexagonal and at least one of saidinternal configurations is twelve sided l

1. An adapter permitting a wrench configured to engage a given size andgiven configured rotatable device to be used to engage a smaller sizedrotatable device comprising: an integral member having a longitudinalaxis, having a symmetrical external configuration concentric with saidaxis configured to receive a wrench whereby the member may be rotated,and having a recess in each end therein each concentric with said axis,the surface of one recess being configured to slidably and nonrotatablyengage a rotatable device of a first configuration and the other recessbeing configured to nonrotatably engage a rotatable member of a secondconfiguration, including a first and a second integral enlarged diameterportion each formed on the exterior of said member intermediate the endsthereof, each enlarged diameter portion being concentric with saidmember axis and each being of short length measured parallel the memberaxis, the enlarged diameter portions being spaced apart from each otherand adaptable to receive a wrench therebetween, the externalconfiguration of the integral member being the same throughout thelength thereof except for the enlarged diameter portions.
 2. An adapteraccording to claim 1 wherein said member external configuration ishexagonal and, at least one of said internal configurations is square.3. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said member externalconfiguration is hexagonal and at least one of said internalconfigurations is also hexagonal.
 4. An adapter according to claim 1wherein said member external configuration is hexagonal and at least oneof said internal configurations is quintagonal.
 5. An adapter accordingto claim 1 wherein said member external configuration is hexagonal andat least one of said internal configurations is octagonal.
 6. An adapteraccording to claim 1 wherein said member external configuration ishexagonal and at least one of said internal configurations is twelvesided.